Brandon Shaffer's Todd Akin Moment

Contrary to his blind loyalists' repeated fawning, I'd like to paint you a quite different picture of State Senator and U.S. Congressional candidate Brandon Shaffer.

I'll get to his horrid voting record over the last eight years later, but there's even something more despicable he's engaged in that you probably aren't even aware of. By now, everyone is aware of U.S. Senate candidate Todd Akin's moronic "legitimate rape" comment. Those are two words that just don't belong together, and even though Mr. Akin has apologized repeatedly for it -- and not repeated it -- he should probably step down from his senate race.

But many candidates, including Brandon Shaffer, keep repeating that phrase via fundraising requests. How sick is that? But it gets even better in Shaffer's case. Are you aware that Shaffer whined that how he was treated politically was akin (no pun intended) to a rape victim in a Sunday Denver Post editorial back in January of this year?

In a response to a Curtis Hubbard question about the wisdom of Democrats having their top two leaders in the statehouse running for Congress (Shaffer and Sal Pace), Shaffer responded with "What I thought when I read your piece -- it's a little bit like blaming the woman or saying to a woman she deserved it," he said, apparently referencing victims of rape or sexual harassment. (Hubbard's words)

(Source: 1/8/12 Denver Post. Hubbard: Political games in the new year)

So he clearly is demeaning rape victims hoping for you to feel sorry for him, and I don't recall him ever taking that back or apologizing for it. Instead, since this Akin situation came up, he's doubled down sending out a fundraising request (so rushed he even spelled Akin's name "Aiken" ) on his opponents (Cory Gardner) 38th birthday asking for $38 contributions. Yes, Brandon Shaffer is trying to capitalize on "legitimate rape."

Then he sent out an email talking about "nauseating headlines" trying to tie Cory Gardner to Todd Akin, and has the gall to call Gardner's policies "extreme,", hoping you never find out about his own "Todd Akin moment." He's not the only Democratic candidate nationwide celebrating and repeatedly using Mr. Akin's phrase -- but do you ever hear any of them demanding Mr. Akin remove himself from his senate race? Of course not, because they're hypocrites, but that for another day.

As if you'd ever need any more reasons to never vote for Brandon Shaffer even for dog catcher (if that were ever to become an elected position), here's some:

He voted to overturn the voters will (2004's Amendment 36 for splitting Colorado's Electoral College votes) TWICE. The second time he tried to make it so it wouldn't go to the voters again.

He, as Senate President, held a Democrat-only two-day meeting at taxpayer expense, probably breaking open meetings laws, later saying GOP members probably should have been invited.

He voted against transparency for school district financial reporting.

He voted to make ballot initiatives harder for citizens to bring forward, as well as requiring 60 percent approval to have those initiatives pass.

He voted to suspend property tax exemptions for seniors.

He voted to take away sales tax exemption for agricultural compounds used in the care of livestock.

He voted to increase vehicle registration fees.

He was caught ignoring a Department of Defense directive over the use of military uniforms in a political campaign message when he sent out a mailer with him pictured in his Navy uniform.

It's no wonder his own party threw Brandon Shaffer under the redistricting bus and put him in a difficult district for any Democrat to win. He's been used to being in a safe Democrat district for eight years, which would explain his anti-constituent voting record and his blasé attitude about making statements comparing himself to someone who's been sexually assaulted.

He didn't belong anywhere near the state Capitol, and he surely doesn't belong anywhere near our U.S. Capitol. Or rape victims.

Chris Rodriguez is a 12-year Longmont resident and the editor and publisher of LongmontPolitics.Com.

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